Urban Rural Connections: A Whole King County

There is a symbiotic relationship between the urban and rural areas of King County; one side can not be healthy without the other.

In early 2008, PRKC set out to demonstrate this with the Urban-Rural Connections Project.  The volunteer-coordinated project has 3 components:

• An Educational Executive Tour of local farms, working forests and recreation sites for King County Councilmembers, Regional Policy Makers and Stakeholders, in June 2008;

• The Profiles Project showcasing the many relationships across the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) that contribute to public health, regional economy and quality of life;

• Sustainable King County Writing Project, with 23 volunteer writers and guest columnists writing about local sustainability in community newspapers and newsletters across the County from May-Sept 2008.

Many residents do not know that there is an "Urban Growth Boundary" in King County.  The UGB is the purple line on the map below and identifies where residential, retail and commercial growth will occur, and what areas are set aside for natural resource management (aquifer recharge, flood control, etc), farms and working forests. 

Climate change, rising transportation costs, projected population growth, increasing pressure on our rural and natural resource areas,  food safety, preserving high-quality recreational opportunities - these are concerns of many King County residents.   

King County has long served as a model for regional growth planning for the State and the for the Nation.  The County Council and Executive are nationally recognized for their leadership addressing climate change challenges, growth management and transportation options head-on.  Everyday our policy makers face the daunting task of finding balance with shrinking budgets and growing Federal regulations while needing to serve the immediate needs of our diverse and growing population. 

We all must work together to ensure King County will remain healthy, vibrant and one of the most beautiful places to live well into the future.  Supporting local farmers at farmers markets and by buying food with the Salmon-Safe and Puget Sound Fresh logos, buying local FSC certified lumber and making conscious choices about consumption is just part of the picture. Making cities walkable and more livable for families  - even with increased density pressure  - is also a priority.  Smart transportation choices are also key to ensuring our region remains vibrant and healthy.

As residents working together, with our policy makers and our community and business leaders, we can realize a whole, healthy King County for many generations to come.

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Why 2008 is Special...

Every 4 Years, the King County Comprehensive Plan is updated.  Every 10 Years, the King County Charter is eligible for update.  Both of these updates are coinciding in 2008.  Decisions made this year will impact the sustainability of the region - positively or negatively.   PRKC encourages all King County residents to become informed, talk to others, and talk to our policy makers about what you think needs to happen to ensure a sustainable King County for the long-term.

Comp Plan:

To learn more about the King County Comprehensive Plan which sets growth and natural resource policy CLICK HERE.  You can also submit feedback directly to the King County Council.  CLICK HERE to SUBMIT FEEDBACK.

Charter:

To learn about the King County Charter Update, CLICK HERE.  To read about proposed amendments, CLICK HERE.

• PRKC supports the proposed Charter Open Space Amendment  (OSA).  To learn about the King County Charter Open Space Amendment CLICK HERE.  To read the Letter of Support from Charter Review Commissioners, CLICK HERE.

• PRKC also supports the proposed Charter Preamble Amendment. 

To read about the Walk the Line Executive Tour, CLICK HERE.

To read the Urban-Rural Profiles, CLICK HERE.

Project Sponsors: